Daughters of the House Chapter Summary & Analysis - Chapter 9, The Photographs Summary

Chapter 9, The Photographs Summary

Léonie is fascinated by the family photographs in the main salon. Antoinette had placed herself at the center of the group. A photograph of Thérèse dressed for her first communion is next to a photograph of Léonie, who is in a school gym uniform and is scowling at the camera. Beside Antoinette's photograph is a formal photograph of Louis. Madeleine looks young and eager, a defiant expression on her face. Marie-Joséphine is also featured in a photograph. The eldest of the three sisters, Marie-Joséphine renamed herself Soeur Dosithée when she joined the convent. Victorine took the photograph of Léonie and Thérèse, arms around each other, in the kitchen doorway. The image is blurry, and it is difficult to tell the girls apart.

Chapter 9, The Photographs Analysis

The formal arrangement of photographs on the mantle shows the official arrangement of the household. Antoinette has put herself in the center, emphasizing her power and importance in...
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